Library | Building America Solution Center

This library contains research reports produced by the Building America program and other building science resources used to support this Solution Center. The materials cover both new construction and existing homes. Use the search box and/or the filters to explore hundreds of residential building resources. Access to some references not produced by Building America may require purchase from the publisher. Documents are listed alphabetically. While we continually update our database, links may have changed since posting. Please contact our webmaster if you find broken links.

Showing results 51 - 81 of 81

Measure Guideline: Internal Insulation of Masonry Walls

Author(s)

Straube,

Ueno,

Schumacher

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Publication Date

July, 2012

Report summarizing the importance of properly insulating and air sealing masonry walls, providing step by step instructions and approaches.

Measure Guideline: Three High Performance Mineral Fiber Insulation Board Retrofit Solutions

Author(s)

Neuhauser

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

January, 2015

Report describing the use of mineral fiber insulating sheathing in a high performance enclosure retrofit package.

Measure Guideline: Wall Air Sealing and Insulation Methods in Existing Homes; An Overview of Opportunity and Process

Author(s)

Roberts,

Stephenson

Organization(s)

NAHB Research Center Industry Partnership,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Publication Date

September, 2012

Document providing renovators and retrofit contractors an overview of considerations when including wall air sealing and insulation in an energy retrofit project.

Measure Guideline: Water Management at Tub and Shower Assemblies

Author(s)

Dickson

Organization(s)

IBACOS

Publication Date

December, 2011

Report covering the fundamental waterproofing strategies for tub and shower assemblies.

Moisture and Structural Analysis for High Performance Hybrid Wall Assemblies

Author(s)

Grin,

Lstiburek

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Publication Date

September, 2012

Report describing the work conducted for high performance hybrid assemblies.

Moisture Control for Residential Buildings

Author(s)

Joseph Lstiburek

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Publication Date

September, 2020

Report providing extensive guidance on controlling moisture in building envelopes through proper selection and installation on air, water, thermal, and vapor barriers.

Moisture Management for High R-Value Walls

Author(s)

Lepage,

Schumacher,

Lukachko

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation

Publication Date

November, 2013

Report explaining moisture-related concerns for high R-value wall assemblies and discusses past Building America research work that informs this study.

Moisture Performance of High-R Wall Systems

Author(s)

Shah,

Kochkin

Organization(s)

Home Innovation Research Labs

Publication Date

May, 2018

The next generation of building enclosures is a key step toward achieving high-performance goals through decreasing energy load demand and enabling advanced space-conditioning systems. Yet the adoption of high-R enclosures and particularly high-R walls has been a slow-growing trend because...

Moisture Research - Optimizing Wall Assemblies

Author(s)

Arena Lois,

Mantha Pallavi

Organization(s)

Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,

CARB,

Steven Winter Associates,

SWA,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL

Publication Date

May, 2013

Report describing evaluation of several configurations of wall assemblies to determine the accuracy of moisture modeling and make recommendations to ensure durable, efficient assemblies.

Multi-Family Construction Air Sealing Guide

Author(s)

Steven Winter Associates

Organization(s)

Steven Winter Associates,

SWA

Publication Date

January, 2013

Report providing guidance to air sealing multifamily homes.

Opportunities for Energy Conservation and Improved Comfort From Wind Washing Retrofits in Two-Story Homes - Part I

Author(s)

Withers Charles R,

Cummings James B

Organization(s)

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Publication Date

September, 2010

Report highlighting the evaluation methods used and extent of wind washing found in a study analyzing wind washing in thirty-two two-story homes.

Opportunities for Energy Conservation and Improved Comfort From Wind Washing Retrofits in Two-Story Homes - Part II

Author(s)

Withers Charles R,

Cummings James B

Organization(s)

Florida Solar Energy Center,

FSEC

Publication Date

September, 2010

Report presenting the results of a study evaluating retrofit solutions for addressing the effects of wind washing on homes.

Pan Flashing for Exterior Wall Openings

Author(s)

Building Science Corporation

Organization(s)

BSC

Publication Date

May, 2009

Information sheet with details on pan flashing for exterior walls.

Practical Residential Wall Systems: R-30 and Beyond

Author(s)

Aldrich Robb,

Arena Lois,

Zoeller William

Organization(s)

Steven Winter Associates,

SWA,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Publication Date

March, 2010

Document with information about the most practical methods to achieve whole-wall performance of R-30 or above.

Predicted Versus Actual Savings for a Low-Rise Multifamily Retrofit in Boulder, Colorado

Author(s)

Arena Lois,

Williamson Jim

Organization(s)

Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,

CARB,

Steven Winter Associates,

SWA,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL

Publication Date

November, 2013

Report documenting actual energy savings of a retrofit project in Boulder, CO.

Predicting Envelope Leakage in Attached Dwellings

Author(s)

Faakye Omari,

Arena Lois,

Griffiths Dianne

Organization(s)

Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,

CARB,

Steven Winter Associates,

SWA,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL

Publication Date

July, 2013

Research study exploring a test method measuring air leakage between units through common surfaces and air infiltration across exterior, noncommon surfaces of the enclosure.

Providing a Thermal Break in Gut Rehabs

Author(s)

Steven Winter Associates

Organization(s)

CARB,

Steven Winter Associates,

SWA

Publication Date

August, 2006

Information sheet about how to reduce thermal bridging in walls.

ReVision Home: Standing Seam Metal Cool Roofing

Author(s)

Steven Winter Associates

Organization(s)

CARB,

Steven Winter Associates,

SWA

Publication Date

February, 2010

Information about a roof retrofit using a metal, cool roof system.

Strategy Guideline: Energy Retrofits for Low-Rise Multifamily Buildings in Cold Climates

Author(s)

Brozyna Kevin,

Badger Leslie

Organization(s)

IBACOS,

Vermont Energy Investment Corporation,

VEIC

Publication Date

April, 2013

Document explaining the benefits of evaluating and identifying energy efficiency retrofit measures that could be made during renovation and maintenance of multifamily buildings.

Structural Testing of Screws through Thick Exterior Insulation

Author(s)

J Tatara,

L Ricketts

Organization(s)

RDH Building Science Inc.

Publication Date

January, 2017

Conference paper describing testing of the performance of fasteners used to attach rigid foam insulation to the exterior of walls.

Summary of Code Barriers: Summary of Code and Standard Barriers to the Implementation of High Performance Home Systems Designs

Author(s)

NAHB Research Center

Organization(s)

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Publication Date

December, 2009

Document describing issues of wind pressure resistance in walls with exterior rigid foam sheathing installed directly over framing members.

Sunnyvale Marine Climate Deep Retrofit

Author(s)

German Alea,

Siddiqi Aqdus,

Dakin Bill

Organization(s)

Alliance for Residential Building Innovation,

ARBI,

Davis Energy Group

Publication Date

November, 2014

Research project evaluating the pre-and post-retrofit energy consumption of a marine climate retrofit, compare actual energy use to original predictions, and identify opportunities for cost savings in other similar retrofits in this climate.

Technical Highlight: NREL Evaluates the Thermal Performance of Uninsulated Walls to Improve the Accuracy of Building Energy Simulation Tools

Author(s)

Ridouane

Organization(s)

NREL

Publication Date

January, 2012

Document about development of models for evaluating thermal performance of walls in existing homes that will improve the accuracy of building energy simulation tools when predicting potential energy savings of existing homes.

The New American Home 2009: Las Vegas, Nevada; Building Technologies Program (Brochure)

Author(s)

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Organization(s)

NREL

Publication Date

December, 2008

Case study of new home construction in the hot-dry and mixed-dry climate zones.

Thermal Impact of Fasteners in High-Performance Wood-Framed Walls

Author(s)

Christensen Dane

Organization(s)

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL

Publication Date

January, 2011

Research study investigating the thermal efficiency of fasteners, namely drywall screws and siding nails, in high-performance wood-framed walls.

Three-Dimensional Numerical Evaluation of Thermal Performance of Uninsulated Wall Assemblies

Author(s)

Ridouane El Hassan,

Bianchi Marcus V A

Organization(s)

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL

Publication Date

November, 2011

Research study describing a detailed 3D computational fluid dynamics model that evaluates the thermal performance of uninsulated wall assemblies.

Van Geet Off-Grid Home: An Integrated Approach to Energy Savings

Author(s)

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Organization(s)

NREL

Publication Date

August, 2004

Report about a project with successful integration of numerous energy-conservation and renewable-energy features into a beautiful, comfortable, and very energy-efficient off-grid home.

Verification and Validation of EnergyPlus Conduction Finite Difference and Phase Change Material Models for Opaque Wall Assemblies

Author(s)

Tabares-Velasco Paulo Cesar,

Christensen Craig,

Bianchi Marcus V A,

Booten Chuck

Organization(s)

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL

Publication Date

July, 2012

Report summarizing NRELs efforts to develop diagnostic test cases to conduct accurate energy simulations when phase change materials (PCMs) are modeled in residential buildings.

Water Management of Noninsulating and Insulating Sheathings

Author(s)

Smegal,

Lstiburek

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation

Publication Date

April, 2012

Report summarizing current research, summarizes issues that have been experienced with current best practices, and recommends ways in which the best practices can be improved for water managing sheathings.

Wisdom Way Solar Village

Author(s)

Aldrich Robb

Organization(s)

Home Energy Magazine

Publication Date

March, 2009

Article describing sustainable community development of near zero energy homes in Greenfield, Massachusetts.

Wisdom Way Solar Village: Design, Construction, and Analysis of a Low Energy Community

Author(s)

Aldrich Robb

Organization(s)

Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings,

CARB,

National Renewable Energy Laboratory,

NREL,

Steven Winter Associates,

SWA

Publication Date

August, 2012

Report describing the design and construction of a highly energy efficient community of ten duplexes in Greenfield, Massachusetts.